Class Reunion

Anyone who knew Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes roots for them to succeed in Chicago and beyond. Media-wise, they were genuine, forthcoming guys – back-to-back winners of Cleveland writers’ prestigious “Austin Carr Award.” Drew Gooden has been here since LeBron’s second season and Larry, through the two postseason years of LBJ’s career.

But certain situations and certain individuals just don’t mesh. If they did, we’d all be married to our first girlfriend.

Hughes and Gooden made their first return since the Feb. 27 blockbuster deal that sent them – along with Shannon Brown and Cedric Simmons, who both got DNP-CDs yesterday – to Chicago in exchange for Ben Wallace and Joe Smith. After just over a week, and based on Sunday’s ballgame, it seems like each team is satisfied. Same for the individuals, although Drew seemed a little homesick.

Gooden was constantly in the center of trade rumors, although he was completely content in Cleveland after a nomadic start to his career. Hughes – not so much.

And Larry made no bones that he was glad for the change of scenery.

“I’m happy now,” said the laid-back Hughes, who led Chicago with 23 points on 40 percent shooting. “I’m able to just be me. It’s a fresh place, and it’s a style of play that fits me better. I’m happy. I’m cool with everything.”

Drew had a pretty Drew-like performance, doubling up with 11 and 10. He admitted almost going to the wrong locker room. He got his first start with the Bulls and got a warm reception when he was introduced. “It shows that the fans recognize what I’ve put in here. I might have left, but the banner in the rafters ain’t going nowhere – and I was a part of it.”

Larry didn’t get mauled at The Q like Carlos Boozer does – rightfully so. But Hughes, because of his salary and expectations when he arrived, was booed while he was with the Wine and Gold. He was prepared for the catcalls either way, joking that “if they’re booing now, I’m doing something good.”

Larry was never happy with his role as point guard in Cleveland and he’ll be off the ball for the Bulls. Drew needed to be needed. He’ll get that in Chicago, too.

The always-pragmatic LeBron James put it succinctly before Sunday afternoon’s tip-off. “I had mixed feelings (about the trade), because the guys that I lost, I grew a good bond with those guys,” said James. “But as professionals you have to move on, and we did. And we’re very excited about the guys we have here now.”

Those “guys” had a solid game in the clutch 95-86 win, especially Joe Smith. After going scoreless in the first three quarters, Smith drilled three straight short jumpers as the Cavaliers erased an eight-point fourth-quarter deficit.

Another new guy – Wally Szczerbiak – also had eight points in the fourth. Wally, who became a father for the third time one day earlier, had his best game as a Cavalier, joining LeBron in double-figures with 17 points. For the first time since he arrived from Seattle, Szczerbiak looked like he was having fun.

“I’ve been so amped up and excited for these games that maybe (the birth of his son, Maximus Jack) just slowed me down a little bit,” said the former Miami (OH) star. “There was just so much else going on that I didn’t really press a little too much in the game.”

One major trait that the new infusion of players all share – that perhaps the outgoing players did not share – is “urgency.” The Cavaliers acquired veterans who really want the ring. Ben Wallace has tasted the ultimate success, the other three players have been chasing it, whether it’s been four years (Delonte West), eight years (Szczerbiak) or twelve (Smith).

The Cavaliers are 3-2 since the trade, but they’ve been battling the injury bug that struck once again on Sunday. Already without the services of Daniel Gibson and Sasha Pavlovic – both critical to any sort of playoff run – the Cavaliers got news that Zydrunas Ilguaskas will be out at least a week with a strained back.

The Cavaliers play the second of three straight mid-week back-to-backs on the road when they travel to New York to face the Knicks on Wednesday. Cleveland had one of their worst losses of the season at Madison Square Garden back in December.

As for Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes, hopefully the fans didn’t get too sentimental about their return. The Cavaliers will see the Bulls three more times in the next 37 days. And in two of those tilts, Hughes and Gooden will have the sold-out crowd on their side.